Pages

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Here's a fun Christmas Bingo Card hanging that I created a few years ago.

The bingo card measures 5x7 and came in a kit I had purchased. I dug through my box of treasures to decorate the card, but you can find similar pieces at your local craft store or online. The photo is a favorite of mine. It's a photo of my mom Janet when she was a little girl and it appears that she has put Santa to sleep with her wish list for Christmas.

I punched a hole in each corner of the card and thread silver pipe cleaner through the holes to use as a hanger. And then I embellished the card with buttons, rhinestones, lace, glitter star and rhinestone button....

a pre-made flower, bottle brush Christmas tree, metal Joy word, a metal "tis the season!" label, garland, pom pom fringe, and crepe paper. I also matted the picture onto white card stock and cut a scallop edge with scissors and then outlined the photo with some silver glitter glue.

Monday, November 28, 2011

Today is my dear husband's 41st birthday. I thought I'd honor him with 41 reasons why I think he is the best guy in the world.

1. He has the ability to make me laugh like no one else can. Even when I am trying to be mad at him. Which makes him a very smart man.

2. He's my best friend.

3. He has yet to kick me out of the car for my back seat driving. I don't think I'd be able to put up with myself like he does.

4. He can strike up a conversation with a complete stranger and come way friends. He's that likable of a guy.

5. He's a great cook. So much so that he does the cooking in our house. I know, I'm very spoiled.

6. He treats his mother well. Which I think is very important in a man.

7. He is handy around the house. We did after all build our house.

8. He teases me mercilessly, but I know it's because he has a big ol' crush on me.

9. He loves to surprise me. Not jump out and scare me kind of surprise, but surprise me with a trip to Disneyland like he did for my 27th birthday.

10. He asks my advice on what shirt to wear with what colored pants or hat. I love that.
11. He is a walking calculator. He is a math whiz and our financial planner. Math is not my strong point and I am thankful I can leave the numbers up to him and know that our future is well taken care of.

12. He is a travel bug like me.

13. He is big on tradition like me. Like reliving our first date every year, or exchanging ornaments every Christmas.

14. He knows to get me flowers for my birthday, anniversary and Valentines day.

15. He's been there for me through some very hard times. I can always count on him to be my rock.

16. When I asked him what first attracted him to me, he told me it was my eyes. Oh be still my beating heart!

17. He's taller and bigger than me. I once dated a guy who was smaller than me and I had a very hard time with it.

18. He's supported me in my new love for running and has run beside me in 5 out of 6 half marathons even though I'm a slower runner.

19. I love how he plays hide and seek with the dogs. It's the cutest thing.

20. He has a green thumb, whereas I have a black one.

21. He puts up with my obsessive painting and repainting a room until I get the color right. Our poor master bedroom is on it's 5th color.

22. He loves the outdoors as much as I do.

23. He thinks things through, whereas I tend to be impulsive.

24. He has allowed me (although I don't think I really gave him the choice) to turn our "office" into my craft room.

25. He gives the best hugs. Period.

26. He doesn't make fun of me for my fear of heights. In fact, when we were in Italy and climbed up and down countless towers, he would walk in front or behind me so that I would feel safe.

27. When were were first dating, he was away at college at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo, and we would write each other letters (this was before email) every day. I still have the letters in a box somewhere.

28. He lets me eat the crispy fries.

29. He has a wicked sense of humor.
30. He is kind and thoughtful and not afraid to show his feelings.
31. As a Fire Captain, he risks his life every day he goes to work. He is my hero and I love his bravery.

32. He can dish it as good as he can take it. We are each others best sparing partner - in a good natured way.
33. He went and saw the fist three Twilight movies with me. I couldn't put him through a fourth one. I'm not that cruel.
34. When I'm sick, he'll make me chicken soup and take care of me.
35. He'll affectionately tell me "You're killing me smalls", after the movie The Sand Lot, when I do something silly. And it always makes me smile.
36. He makes me feel safe.
37. I have never once doubted his love for me nor mine for him. Our love for one another is pure and true.
38. He's super smart. Like encyclopedia smart. If I don't know something, I just ask him.
39. He always asks me what I want to have for dinner, what I want to watch on tv, or where I want to sit in the movie theater. And while sometimes this may get on my nerves because I feel like I am the one always making the decision, I would rather he ask my opinion than not all.
40. He has this twinkle in his eyes that just stops me in my tracks.
41. Kids love him. They eat him up. And I know that he is going to be the most amazing dad.

Thursday, November 17, 2011

My OB sent me in for another 4D ultrasound to have some fibroid tumors checked on. I happen to have 4 of the suckers, but thankfully they have not grown or moved. Before we did IVF, I had surgery to have a large fibroid tumor removed, and my OB decided to leave the smaller fibroids so as not to cut into my uterus too much. Now we just need to watch them and hope they don't obstruct the birth canal. If they do, I'll have to have a c-section,which I'm really hoping to avoid.

Our first 4D ultrasound at around 4 1/2 months produced some freakish pictures. The baby looked more alien than anything. However, our second 4D ultrasound at just under 7 months produced some astonishing pictures (above). We could see her cute button nose, tiny little mouth, precious eyelids, amazing hands. We couldn't get over how detailed the 4D ultrasound was! We just had our third 4D ultrasound today at 33w3d and the pictures weren't as clear as my last ultrasound, probably because the baby has grown and is more crammed inside my tummy. My husband and I were both shocked when the technician told us how big the baby was....6 lbs 10 oz! And I still have 7 weeks to go!! Oh my! And surprise, surprise, she has a full head of hair. She probably gets that from her momma ;-)

The pregnancy is progressing as it should be. I'm growing, although I'm not huge I've been told. However, I feel huge! Sleeping has become a challenge. I now have to sleep with a pillow between my legs for comfort and find myself tossing and turning A LOT. And bending over to pick something off the floor has become just about impossible and I'm sure hilarious for all who witness me trying too do so. I find myself grunting and groaning when getting up off the couch and out of my car, which my husband loves to tease me about. I'm also tired A LOT, and hungry A LOT. The baby seems to be sucking the energy and food out of me. My plan is to work right up till Christmas and I just hope I have enough energy to do so!

Jenny

P.S. The nursery is coming along. Just need to add some decorative touches here and there. I hope to post pictures of the finished room soon!

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Out of all my seasonal collages, this is probably my favorite. I love that is not your traditional Christmas colors, but rather an array of colorful pinks, greens and blues. I was inspired by a K & Company paper pack and coordinating embellishments.

The top three embellishments were all pre-made. My only touch was a bit of ribbon to the ornament.

The pink Christmas tree I made. The foil 25 was pre-made. I cut the star out of some glitter paper and then added the pre-made JOY on top.

The ornament was pre-made, I just added some ribbon. Be Jolly - I made the white polka dot frame base and then tied the top pre-made piece with ribbon. The felt snowflake is from Stampin Up! and I just embellished it with a glitter oval frame and button. I added a chipboard frame to the pre-made felt flower. And for the Santa, I just added a red frame.

Last up in my collection, my Valentines Collage, which I will feature in February.

Monday, November 14, 2011

Baby Shower #2 was this last weekend. It was a joint shower. I was worried that none of the men would show up. However, they surprised me and actually got really into the games. Like really into them. It was a fun shower and we are so lucky to have such thoughtful friends.

Shower #3, and the final shower, is this coming Sunday. The shower is being put on by my crafty friends. I can't wait to see what they have in store in the way of decorations :)

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

This is the first in a series of Christmas craft projects I plan to share with you in months of November and December. Christmas is my favorite holiday and as soon as November hits I am inspired to make all things Christmas.

I made these three trees several years ago. I was inspired by a Making Memories ad in Creating Keepsakes magazine. I can't remember which tree it was that Making Memories had featured, it might have been the fringe or loop one, but I knew I had to make my own. And of course everything is better in threes!

Here's a close-up of the tree trees. The first is a loop version, the middle one a fringe tree, and the last is a collage of torn paper. All three are super easy and fun to make!

Cut a 3" x 12" strip of scrapbook paper and fold it in half and secure with adhesive at the top. With scissors, cut strips from the looped bottom, to just about 1/2" from the top.

To create the fringe Christmas tree strips:

Cut a 2" x 12" strip of scrapbook paper and fold it in half and then in half again. With scissors, cut thin strips to just about 1/2" from the top. Unfold and you now have one long strip of fringe.

To create collage Christmas tree pieces:
(sorry, no picture)

Tear random pieces and strips of scrapbook paper or scraps in various sizes and shapes.

The create the loop and fringe tree:

Starting from the bottom of your styrofoam cone, wrap the tree one strip at a time, securing with adhesive or glue. Trim the strips to length as you work your way up the tree.

To create the collage tree:

Wrap your stryofoam cone in some plain paper and secure with adhesive or glue. Now for the fun part, start gluing and overlapping the torn pieces of paper until you have covered every inch of the cone. Add some trim and ribbon to the bottom of the cone and secure with hot glue or pins.

To assemble your trees:

1. Now take your three pots and place a half styrofoam ball in each.

2. Cover the exposed styrofoam ball with moss using hot glue.

3. Take a dowel and stick it through the center of the sytrofoam ball.

4. Take your tree topper and stick it through the top of the dowel.

5. If either end of the dowel feel loose, secure with hot glue.

6. Wrap each dowel with ribbon and secure with hot glue or adhesive.

7. Add a bell or pom to the top of your trees.

8. Now stand back and admire your craftiness and display your trees for all to see!

Saturday, November 5, 2011

Halloween came and went and I never got around to putting my Halloween decorations out, not even my Halloween collage. This being pregnant thing sure has made me lazy. Well, better late than never, here is my Halloween Collage...

The embellishments were mostly pre-made. The large spider I made using a die-cut machine. The web and 3 spiders were a Jolee's pre-made sticker. The witches hat was also Jolee's and I just placed it on top of a vellum tag and added some ribbon. Happy Halloween was pre-made, I just outlined the frame with some glitter glue.

The first square I wrapped in various Halloween ribbon from Martha Stewart. The moon and crow were both die-cuts, I just outlined the moon with glitter glue (one can never have too much glitter!). The pumpkin was printed on paper, I just framed it with a silver pipe cleaner. I stamped BOO on the pre-made green tag. The other BOO I created with a stamp and colored it in with some pencils and then added glossy accents to give it some dimension. The Trick-or-Treat bag was another Jolee's creation that I added to a vellum tag.

The witch and broom were both pre-made (Jolee's I think) and I added the vellum tag. And then I added I pre-made spider to the spiderweb paper.

Friday, November 4, 2011

I hope you don't mind some Christmas Etsy Finds. Now that we're in November, I have Christmas on the brain!

1. But you said... - Classic movie preserved in a fun ornament. My husband and I exchange ornaments every year, and this one might have his name all over it.
2. Crepe Rosette Ornament - These have a pretty, vintage look to them and would be easy to make.
3. Personalized Photo Star Ornamanet - Baby's first ornament next year?
4. Tulle Wreath - Love this wreath!
5. Felt Sugar Cookie Ornaments - I want to make these. If I do, I will be sure to give a tutorial.
6. Gift Tags - I love to make my own gift tags. You could make these with a rubber stamp, or print the greeting onto some card stock with your computer and printer.

Christmas happens to be my MOST FAVORITE holiday, and I have lots of fun Christmas projects to share with you this month and next! I will try and dig out some decorations this weekend and post my first project next week.

This weekend my husband's three adorable aunts are throwing me a baby shower. My first shower of three, three weekends in a row. Baby Isabel is more loved than she knows!

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

The nursery is slowing taking shape! The glider arrived, and boy is it fancy. Not only does it glide, it also rocks and swivels. Now if only it could make me a mocha or latte, I would be even more impressed. The ottoman is still in transit,but should arrive before the baby. I purchased a floor lamp at Target to go between the chair and crib, and covered the lampshade in some fun green polka dot fabric I had left over from my hoop project. I plan to dress up the bottom of the lampshade with some fun pom pom fringe.

The hubby requested a pillow for his lower back for the countless hours he will be spending in the chair with the baby. And me being the good wife that I am, sewed him this fun pink pillow. I didn't tell him that I was planning to make a pillow anyway ;-)

The pom poms for above the chair arrived this week! I can't wait to assemble and hang them.

{ About Me }

Ever since I was a little girl, I've always been creating something. Be it a mess, or something beautiful. Nothing makes me happier than a new project or a bucket of paint. I crave inspiration wherever I go and I hope with this blog to be able to spread a little inspiration and cheer.